Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

These are often non-specific, the most common sign of ovarian cancer is abdominal pain but only 50 percent of woman with ovarian cancer present this.

Combination of the following symptoms and signs may suggest ovarian cancer and should prompt pelvic examination and urgent pelvic ultrasound:

	Pain
	Swollen abdomen
	Palpable mass
	Change in bowel or bladder function
	Back pain
	Loss of appetite and weight loss
	Post-menopausal bleeding   Five Questions to ask yourself: Do you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer? Only 10 percent of ovarian cancers are caused by an inherited genetic mutation, but first degree relatives with breast or ovarian cancer will increase an individuals risk of the diasease. Are you still having periods? Ultrasound scans and Ca125 blood tests must be interpreted with the knowledge of a woman's menopausal status. Bleeding after the menopause will have a malignant cause in about 10 percent of cases. Exclude endometrial, cervical, vaginal or ovarian malignancy. Are you urinating more frequently? An enlarging ovary may press on the bladder. This may happen when the disease is confined to the ovary -stage one. When signs such as abdominal swelling occur, it generally represents stage three ovarian cancer Have you had a change in bowel habit? This may be due to an ovarian mass. Are you suffering from vomiting, nausea or weight loss? Once ovarian cancer has spread to the abdomen, an omental cake often forms which presses on the stomach.

Symptoms of early ovarian cancer, such as urinary symptoms and crampy abdominal pain, are often associated with other more common medical conditions. However, when recurrent, unresolved, or unexplained, these symptoms require exclusion of ovarian cancer as an etiology. By ruling out this diagnosis in a timely manner, we will reduce the interval between first sign or symptom and treatment and possibly improve the survival rate of people with ovarian cancer.

Last updated Nov 26/06